Schnucks Adds International Sections in Some Stores
Schnuck Markets has been expanding its selection of international offerings, including several iconic European brands, in some locations based on local customer preferences.
“We were inspired by listening to our customers’ feedback and the products that they request,” Roger McElroy, a category manager for the St. Louis-based supermarket chain told SFA News Daily.
Schnucks currently has international sections in 22 of its stores, ranging in size from 3 to 12 feet. The retailer recently added international sections in two locations in its Evansville, Indiana, market, when both stores underwent complete remodels, McElroy said.
At the 63,000-square-foot Green River Road store in Evansville, Schnucks added 160 new international products as part of the remodel, he said. Among them were several well-known products from Europe, including Irn Bru soft drinks, Milka chocolate confections, Nestlé Aero and Toblerone chocolate bars, Bechtle noodles, and Biscoff cookies. Items from Italy include Mutti Italian tomato products, Botticelli Balsamic glaze, Lago cookies, and multiple DeLallo products. Other brands from around the globe include Mina harissa and olives, Violet Crumble candy, Arnott’s Tim Tam cookies, and Dare Canadian maple cookies.
The expanded selection at the Evansville stores also includes more kosher offerings, such as jarred gefilte fish, Kedem Tea Biscuits, Knorr Falafel Mix, and matzo ball and matzo ball soup mixes, according to reporting by the Evansville Courier & Press.
The article also describes additional British items including Barry’s Tea, Chiver’s Olde English Marmalade, James Keiller & Son Dundee Orange Marmalade, McDonnells Curry Sauce mix, and McVitie’s Digestives. German and Scandinavian products include Mestemacher whole grain breads, Maggi Spaetzle, Felix Lingonberries, Leksands Original Rye Crispbread, and Lund’s Swedish Pancake Mix.
The retailer is procuring its international products through its existing distributor partners KeHE and UNFI, McElroy said.
“This is something we look at by what our customers request on a store-by-store basis,” he said. “As we remodel stores, we will continue to listen to customer feedback at each location.”
In addition to the new international section, the newly remodeled store on Green River Road also includes expanded deli, dairy, and floral departments, new lighting in the fresh departments, and expanded center store aisles.
At the 62,000-square-foot Evansville West location, new features include expanded produce, bakery, meat, and seafood departments, including the addition of fresh sushi, new energy-efficient refrigeration systems, new lighting in the fresh area, and new acoustic ceiling tiles, in addition to the expanded international offerings.
Both stores also now feature electronic shelf labels and new areas dedicated to ecommerce.
Earlier this year Schnucks said it was also launching extensive remodels at two stores in Florissant and South St. Louis, Missouri, which will include the expansion of several departments and other upgrades.